USA > Pennsylvania > The Book of Prominent Pennsylvanians; a standard reference > Part 14
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Ira Fitch Brainard, president of the Pittsburgh Live Stock Exchange, was born in Canfield, Mahoning
IRA FITCH county, O., January 1, 1840, the son of Calvin Cone and Sophia Fitch Brainard. BRAINARD. He married Fannie A. Heaton Septem- ber 1, 1862. Mr. Brainard came to Pittsburgh in 1867 and went into business in August of the latter year. He is vice-president of the National Live Stock Ex- change, a director in the Liberty National and the Lib- erty Savings Banks, of Pittsburgh; of the Citizens Savings Bank & Trust Company, of Salem, O., and of the Westmoreland Specialty Glass Company, Grape- ville, Pa. He is a veteran of the Civil War and a mem- ber of Duquesne Lodge No. 546, F. & A. M .; Pitts- burgh Consistory Syria Temple, A. A. O. N. M. S .; the Duquesne and Country Clubs; the Pittsburgh Board of Trade, and Sons of the American Revolution.
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C. H. SPANG,
Spang, Chalfant & Co., Inc., Pittsburgh.
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JOHN W. CHALFANT.
The late John Weakley Chalfant, one of Pittsburgh's most prominent business men, was born at Turtle Creek, Allegheny county, Pennsylvania, December 13, 1827. His father, Henry Chalfant, came from near Philadelphia in 1827 and settled at Tur- tle Creek, where he purchased a farm. He married Isabella C. Weakley, daugh- ter of Samuel and Hester Weakley, of Cumberland county, Pennsylvania. Ten children were born to this union, of which John W. was the eldest. John W. Chalfant grew to maturity on the home farm, attending the district school which was supplemented by a course in Jefferson College at Canonsburg. Grad- uating from that institution in 1850, he entered the employ of Zug & Painter, iron manufacturers of Pittsburgh, where he remained until 1855-56, when he purchased an interest in the firm of Spang & Company, iron manufacturers. In 1858 the firm name was changed to Spang, Chalfant & Company, the firm being composed of Charles H. Spang, John W. Chalfant, Campbell B. Herron, Alexander M. Byers and A. G. Lloyd. George A. Chalfant, a brother of our subject, became a member in 1863. During the life of John W. Chalfant he was associated with nearly every enterprise that had for its purpose the upbuilding and development of the financial, manufacturing and social interests of Pittsburgh and vicin- ity. He was the promoter and organizer of the Pittsburgh and Western Railroad, also of the Pittsburgh Junction Railroad. He was one of the organizers and for years was president of the People's National Bank; he served as president of the Manufacturers' and Merchants' Insurance Company of Pittsburgh; and was a director of the People's Savings Bank, Spang, Chalfant & Company, Isabella Furnace Company, Pittsburgh Lo- comotive Works, Western Pennsylvania Institution for the Instruction of the Deaf and Dumb, Western Pennsylvania Hospital and Allegheny General Hospital. He was one of the founders and for many years served as president of the Duquesne Club. When it was decided to hold a sanitary fair in Pittsburgh for the benefit of the soldiers in the field in our Civil War, Mr. Chalfant, with two others, was sent to Cleveland, Ohio, to negotiate for buildings that had been used for similar purposes in that city. Upon their arrival they found that if secured, the bargain must be closed at once, and without wait- ing to confer with the home mission they assumed all the risks and gave their individual
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JOHN W. CHALFANT .- Continued.
notes for ten thousand dollars. This was a large amount for these young men. The project proved a great success, and over a quarter of a million was realized. He was president of the board of trustees for many years of the First Presbyterian Church of Pittsburgh. Mr. Chalfant was probably the first man in the world to use natural gas for manufacturing purposes. The gas was piped to his iron mills before other manufactur- ers utilized it. May 31, 1860 John W. Chalfant married Miss Ellen Quigley McCrea, daughter of William and Liberty M. McCrea. To Mr. and Mrs. Chalfant five children were born, all of whom are living: Mrs. Mary C. McKee, Isabella C., Henry, Eleanor Mc- Crea and Annie Chalfant. Mr. Chalfant died December 28, 1898.
GEORGE WESTINGHOUSE.
George Westinghouse, inventor and manufacturer, was born October 6, 1846, in Schoharie county, New York. His parents were George Westinghouse and Emeline (nee Vedder) Westinghouse. He was educated in the public schools and attended Union Col- lege until he reached sophomore year. Later he received a number of honorary degrees from educational institutions. As a boy he spent much time in his father's machine shop, at the age of 15 inventing a rotary engine. He married Miss Marguerite Erskine Walker in 1867. He is the inventor of an improved air brake, many other railroad appli- ances and numerous improved types of engines. Mr. Westinghouse is not only an in- ventor, however, but a man of remarkable executive and business ability. He soon be- came the head of one of the most wonderful manufacturing enterprises in the world. He is president of 30 corporations with an aggregate capital of $120,000,000.
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WILLIAM H. SINGER.
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WILLIAM H. SINGER.
When William H. Singer died, on September 4, 1909, Pittsburgh lost one of its most progressive men, one of its most potential manufacturing factors, one of its men who had piled up many worthy achievements and helped to place Pittsburgh in the forefront as the greatest industrial center of the world. Mr. Singer was one of the best known of the pioneer steelmasters. He aided in laying the Gibraltar foundation upon which the great Pittsburgh iron and steel industry was builded.
He was born on October 2, 1835, in Pittsburgh, and was educated in the public schools of that city, and later entered the Western University of Pennsylvania (now known as the University of Pittsburgh). His advent into the then youthful steel industry was during the early days of his youth. He entered the employ of G. & J. H. Shoenberger & Co., which firm had begun the manufacture of blister-steel in Pittsburgh in 1833.
A few years later, Mr. Singer became a member of the firm of Singer, Nimick & Co., which had been organized in 1848 as the Singer, Hartman & Company, by his eldest brother, John Singer, and which, as early as 1853, was already manufacturing crucible cast steel of high grade.
In 1860 Mr. Singer became the head of the firm and retained that position for 40 years. In 1900 the concern was absorbed by the Crucible Steel Company of America, of which Mr. Singer was a director until the time of his death, September 4, 1909. He was also one of those captains of industry who organized the Pittsburgh Bessemer Steel Company, which built the Homestead steel works and, after those works were purchased by Andrew Carnegie, served as a director of the Carnegie Steel Company.
Mr. Singer's life was not alone notable for his endeavors along business and manu- facturing lines, for he was an inventor of some prominence. In the course of his prac- tical business experience, Mr. Singer made and perfected several inventions of value, for some of which he was granted patents by the United States Government. Among the most prominent of these was the "rolling coulter machine," now universally employed for rolling the bevel on plow-coulters and harrow disks. He also invented a method for compressing the liquid steel ingots designed for the manufacture of circular saws, where- by the seams liable to occur on the teeth, which caused the split teeth, were eliminated. Additional patents relating to the manufacture of plow steel, etc., were very valuable to Singer, Nimick & Co. and other licensees.
Mr. Singer was a life-long resident of Pittsburgh, and for many years was known as one of the most prominent and influential men there, not only in business and manufac- turing activity, but in other lines of commercial and home life. He was well known and highly respected in Pittsburgh's social, religious, charitable and municipal affairs. He was known as a conscientious and consistent church man and his work along charitable lines brought him many encomiums, not only from those whom he directly benefited by his philanthropy, but also from his co-workers in the worthy cause.
He was a leader in the American metallurgical industry and was one of those men who recognized the importance of the American Institute of Mining Engineers. He was a member for many years and gave to it his cordial support, and was not lacking in en- thusiasm and sincerity when support was essentially needed. He became a member of the Institute in 1873, when the young society numbered about 200, and when such names as his not only were potent aids to its further co-operation between the theoretical students of mining and metallurgy, and the practical managers of mining and metallurgical opera- tions, to which the usefulness of the Institute has been so largely due. He supported the organization to the last in the same loyal spirit in which he joined and which he displayed during succeeding years. Mr. Singer not only was one of those who aided in the organ- ization of the Pittsburgh Bessemer Steel Company, but was president of the concern until it was purchased by the Carnegie Steel Company. He was 74 years old at the time of his death, and during that three-score and fourteen years he did much in the interest of the iron and steel industry.
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S. A. TAYLOR.
Samuel Alfred Taylor, engineer and man of civic affairs, is a son of Charles T. and Elizabeth J. Taylor. He was in charge of the drafting for the Structural Department of the Carnegie Steel Company at Homestead until 1888, when he entered the employ of the Pennsylvania Railroad. Since 1893, when he left the service of that organi- zation, he has been in private practice of engineering in Pittsburgh. He is a member of the leading national engi- neers' and forestry organizations; he is president of the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania, and past presi- dent of both the American Mining Con- gress and the Mining Institute of Amer- ica. He is a member of the Board of Trustees of the University of Pitts- burgh and Dean of its School of Mines. He is a member of the Duquesne, Uni- versity and Press Clubs of Pittsburgh ; president of the League of Boroughs and Townships of Allegheny County; president and manager of several Penn- sylvania and West Virginia coal com- panies, and is secretary of the Pitts- burgh Coal Operators' Association.
W. M. PARKIN.
William Metcalf Parkin, a me- chanical and mining engineer, was born in Pittsburgh, December 25th, 1877, the son of Charles Parkin and Anna Dravo Parkin. In 1900 he received the B. A. degree at Stanford University, Cali- fornia, in mine engineering. From the Columbia University School of Mines, New York City, in 1902 he received the degree of Mining Engineer. Mr. Parkin has been extensively engaged in min- ing properties and coal properties, both as an operator and as an engineer. He has become identified with the Jones' in- terests in their large properties, the Four States Coal & Coke Company of West Virginia. In politics he has been prominently affiliated with the Pro- gressives. He maintains memberships in the following clubs in Pittsburgh : Duquesne, University, Athletic Associa- tion, Stanton Heights Golf Club, Engi- neers' Society of Western Pennsylvania, Iron City Club. Mr. Parkin is a mem- ber of a family long identified with the steel and iron business of Pittsburgh.
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JULIAN KENNEDY.
Julian Kennedy, inventor, engineer and expert steel manufacturer, was born March 15, 1852, near Youngstown, O. His parents were Thomas Walter Kennedy and Margaret (nee Truesdale) Kennedy.
Julian Kennedy inherited from his father an intense love for mechanics and unusual natural skill in handling ma- chinery. After attending the public schools of Ohio Mr. Kennedy entered the Sheffield Scientific School of Yale University, from which he graduated in 1875. He completed a post-graduate course in the university and filled the chair of physics in the Sheffield Scien- tific School for several years.
After he left the university Mr. Kennedy was connected for a short time with the Briar Hill Iron Company. The position was not satisfactory, however, and soon he resigned. Following this Mr. Kennedy was for one year superin- tendent of the Morse Bridge Works.
Realizing that the Pittsburgh dis- trict was destined to become the center of the iron and steel manufacturing business and that it offered unexcelled opportunities for advancement to young men interested in this occupation, Mr. Kennedy went to Braddock in 1879, where he soon became superintendent of the blast furnaces in the Edgar Thomson Steel Works, remaining in charge of the department for four years.
It was while in charge of the Edgar Thomson furnaces that Mr. Kennedy's genius as an inventor developed practically. During this time he invented the fluid cinder car, improved the hot blast stoves then in use and constructed many other devices of great value in the smelting of ore.
From 1883 until 1886 Mr. Kennedy was in charge of the Lucy Furnaces, and when they came under the control of the same company which operated the Homestead Works, he became superintendent of both plants. In 1886 Mr. Kennedy built an improved plate mill, and during the following year he constructed an armor plate or universal mill. In the construction of this mill Mr. Kennedy made use of many of his own inventions and original plans, including an automatic device for charging ingots and tabling them. He invented hydraulic shears which can handle a 50-ton ingot.
Mr. Kennedy's next position was chief engineer at the Latrobe Steel Works, Latrobe, Pa. There he perfected many devices useful in the manufacture of iron and steel. He remained with this company for a number of years, then opened offices as a consulting engineer in Pittsburgh. At present he is located in the Bessemer building. Mr. Ken- nedy's services have been retained and his remarkable inventive genius employed in the construction of many of the largest and most important plants in all parts of the United States.
Mr. Kennedy belongs to the Duquesne Club, the Country Club, the Pittsburgh Ath- letic Association and the University Clubs of Pittsburgh and New York.
Mr. Kennedy possesses a pleasing personality. He is interested in many philan- thropies. His wife is Jennie Eliza Kennedy.
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John Edward Schlieper was born in Arnsberg, Westphalia, Germany, August 12, 1860, the son of J. L.
JOHN Schlieper and Fanny Schlieper (nee
EDWARD Hachenberg). Mr. Schlieper attended the Polytechnic School in Germany, and SCHLIEPER. in 1881 removed to America, settling in the Pittsburgh district. He began work in the draw- ing room of the Iron City Bridge Works, eventually be- coming constructor in the experimental and construc- tion work for Mr. George Westinghouse, and later as- sistant engineer to J. P. Witherow. He became chief engineer for the Sterling Boiler Company. In 1893 he entered business for himself and has so continued. He has patented and designed the Pittsburgh feed water heaters and purifiers. He is manager of the Schlieper Engineering Company. For three years he was in the Engineering Department of the German Navy, and was one of the crew saved from the German battleship S. M. S. Grosser Kurfuerst, which was sunk May 31, 1878.
George W. Schusler was born in Pittsburgh, Pa., September 26, 1880, the son of P. J. Schusler and Hen- rietta Schusler (nee Hofmeister). Mr.
GEORGE W.
SCHUSLER. Schusler was graduated from Mercers- burg Academy in 1898, and in 1902 from Princeton University, where he was honor man of his class and received the degree of C.E. He is a graduate engineer, now employed as assistant engineer of the city of Pittsburgh, and was in charge of the "Hump" improvement. For four years he was en- gaged as an engineer with the Pennsylvania Railroad Company; for five years he was construction engineer with James Stewart & Company, of New York city. He was in charge of the construction of the Union Depot and terminals in Washington, D. C. He has had direct charge of all bond issue improvements, together with the designing work, since his connection with the Pittsburgh Public Works Department.
S. H. Vandergrift was born in Oil City, Pa., June 30, 1866, the son of J. J. Vandergrift and Henrietta (nee Morrow) Vandergrift. He was married S. H. VAN- in 1888 to Miss Alice B. Mercer in New- DERGRIFT. ark, N. J. They are now residents of Washington, D. C. Mr. Vandergrift is identified with a number of Western Pennsylvania interests. He is vice- president of the Apollo Iron and Steel company, and a di- rector in the following Pittsburgh banking institutions : the Terminal Trust Company, the Pittsburgh Trust Com- pany, and the Keystone National Bank. He is a member of the Duquesne, Union, and Edgewood Clubs of Pitts- burgh; and of the New York Yacht Club, the Thousand Islands Yacht Club, the Nittany Rod & Gun Club, and the Rebels Club, of Virginia.
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E. J. TAYLOR,
Chief Engineer, The Pittsburgh Coal Company.
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PAUL DIDIER.
PAUL DIDIER. Principal Assistant Engineer, Baltimore & Ohio System.
Mr. Didier's headquarters are at Pittsburgh, where he is the highest resi- dent official of his department.
GEORGE H. DANNER.
George H. Danner was born Sep- tember 29, 1874, in Bloomfield, N. J. His parents were the Rev. T. Jefferson Danner and Sarah Frances (nee Mar- tin) Danner. His parents removed to Pittsburgh in 1890. He entered the em- ploy of the McConway & Torley Co. in 1892, and in 1896 accepted a position with Best, Fox & Co. When Best, Fox & Co. became a corporation under the name of the Best Manufacturing Com- pany, Mr. Danner was made director and secretary of the company. In 1903 Mr. Danner, with two associates, or- ganized the Pittsburgh Piping & Equip- ment Company, becoming its president, and serving as such ever since. His business skill and acumen have been largely responsible for the steady and continuous growth and prosperity of this company. He is president of the Hempfield Foundry and director in the Franklin Savings & Trust Company ; di- rector and treasurer of St. Barnabas Free Home, and a director of the George Junior Republic at Grove City.
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WILLIAM McCLURG DONLEY.
Borough Engineer for the Boroughs of Carrick, Mt. Oliver, St. Clair and Knoxville, and Engineer for Baldwin Township, all situated in Allegheny county; also a member of the City Planning Commission of Pitts- burgh. Mr. Donley was born in the old Twenty-fourth ward, now Sixteenth ward, South Side, Pittsburgh, on Janu- ary 29, 1877. He is a son of Mark Don- ley and Margaret Lavake Donley.
Mr. Donley's rise to his present position in life is remarkable, consider- ing his early life. At the death of his mother, when he was but two years old, he was placed in an orphan's home in Allegheny for a period of four years. Upon his return he lived with various friends of the family on the South Side, going to school and working, three years of which he sold newspapers after school, at the old Pittsburgh Post Office. He received his early education at the old Wickersham School, South side, and at the Pittsburgh High School, working on a survey corps during vacation and taking up the study of engineering. In 1895 he entered the employ of the City of Pittsburgh, in the Bureau of Surveys and Engineering, placing himself under private tutoring in engineering, and in 1898 was rewarded for his hard work by being appointed Assistant City Engineer. After holding this position for four years, he spent a year as engineer on the construction of the Wabash Railroad near Pittsburgh.
Mr. Donley then decided to go into the engineering business for himself. In 1904 he was made Borough Engineer for Carrick Borough ; in 1908 and 1909 he was elected Engi- neer for the Boroughs of Mt. Oliver, St. Clair and Knoxville, and in 1912 was elected En- gineer for Baldwin Township. His district comprises a population of about forty thou- sand, being nearly all of the South Hills of Pittsburgh. During his short career as an engineer he has had supervision of over three million dollars of street and sewer construc- tion and other construction work. He has an extensive private practice in engineering in addition to the municipal work. His struggles to obtain an education and his early experi- ence with adversity broadened his character, gave him confidence and a good supply of common sense and practical experience which has been of great value to him in his engi- neering work. Mr. Donley is a member of the American Society of Civil Engineers and the Engineers' Society of Pennsylvania and others. He also takes an active part in and is a member of many fraternal orders.
In November, 1911, Mayor W. A. Magee, recognizing his thorough knowledge of the city and surrounding territory, appointed him as a member of the City Planning Com- mission of Pittsburgh. His devotion and work on this Commission, which is an honorary position, is being highly commented upon by leading men of the city.
Mr. Donley was married in 1899 to Miss Gertrude McGovern, of Duquesne Heights, Pittsburgh. He comes from a family whose ancestors were among the early settlers in the Colonies, and on both his father's and mother's side served in the Revolutionary War. The whole generation always responded quietly to the defense of the nation in time of war. His father, Mark Donley, and uncles, Lieut. Sylvester Donley, Col. Charles Cape- hart and Gen. Henry Capehart, all served throughout the Civil War with distinction, in the West Virginia Cavalry, under Generals Sheridan and Custer, while his brother, Cus- ter Donley, and cousin, Lieut .- Col. Edward Capehart, served in the Navy throughout the Spanish-American War.
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THOMAS M. PEPPERDAY.
Thomas M. Pepperday was born in Brooklyn, New York, September 16, 1885. He is the son of Joseph Alexander Pepperday, a native of Pittsburgh, and Mary (nee Fox) Pepperday. Before entering the automobile business Mr. Pepperday received a liberal ed- ucation. He first attended the public schools of New Rochelle, New York. Later Mr. Pepperday was graduated from Dwight College and after that he studied law.
In the month of December, 1900, Mr. Pepperday entered the automobile business, being affiliated with Smith and Mabeley, pioneer automobile importers of this country. He was located in New York city. That company started the famous Simplex car. When Smith and Mabeley went out of business Mr. Pepperday continued with the Simplex Dis- tributing Company, retailers, the new owners of that machine. Quinby and Company purchased one of the Simplex companies and Mr. Pepperday, still following the fortunes of his car, went with the new owners.
Quinby and Company sent Mr. Pepperday to Pittsburgh as its representative for Simplex and S. G. V. automobiles (the most expensive cars on the market). Mr. Pepper- day then purchased Quinby and Company's interests in Pittsburgh and formed the T. M. Pepperday Company, of which he is sole owner. His company is located at Grant boule- vard and Seventh avenue, Pittsburgh. Mr. Pepperday is married and resides in the East End section of Pittsburgh.
A. S. McSwigan, the son of Henry McSwigan, was born in Pittsburgh, November 5, 1865. He attended the public and parochial schools until aged 14, A. S. M'SWIGAN. when he went to work as office boy for the Western Union Telegraph Company, soon becoming telegraph operator. In 1887 he became a re- porter on the Commercial Gazette and three years later, city editor of the Post. He continued in the newspaper business until 1902 when he became advertising and amusement manager for the Philadelphia Company and affiliated corporations. Five years later he leased Kenny- wood park which he still operates. He married Gene- vieve Brady and they live at 217 Tennyson avenue. There are five children. He belongs to the Press Club, Colum- bus Club, the Art Society of Pittsbugh, the Knights of Columbus, the A. O. H., the C. M. B. A., and St. Paul's Cathedral church committee. He is an active worker in Catholic charities and civic betterment.
Anton Lutz, organizer of the Lutz & Son Brewing Company and director of the Independent Brewing Company, was born in Liberty avenue,
ANTON
LUTZ. Pittsburgh. He is the son of Damas Lutz and Crezentia Lutz. He started in early youth in the brewing business. In 1880 he helped form the partnership of Lutz & Walz, which became the D. Lutz & Son firm in 1881, when he and his father went into business together. This partnership lasted until 1894, when they incorporated as the D. Lutz & Son Brewing Company, Anton Lutz being president. In 1905 the company was sold to become a part of the Independent Brewing Company. Mr. Lutz was made chairman of the board of directors, which position he still holds. He is a member of the Elks fraternal or- ganization and of the Catholic Church. Mr. Lutz is exceedingly fond of horses.
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THOMAS RODD.
Thomas Rodd, civil engineer and business man, was born in London, England, June 13, 1849. His parents were Horatio Rodd and Anne (nee Theobald) Rodd. When a boy five years old he was brought to the United States by his parents. His early education was in private schools and in the public schools. Few man ever re- ceived better early training at home and at carefully selected schools than Mr. Rodd.
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